Methods for separation of azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions of trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF3COCI)

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions including trifluoroiodomethane (CF 3 I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF 3 COCl), methods of forming same, and methods of separating, or breaking, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions of trifluoroiodomethane (CF 3 I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF 3 COCl).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/113,577, filed Nov. 13, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure is related to azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions and, in particular, to azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and methods of separating, or breaking, such azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions.

BACKGROUND

Fluorocarbon based fluids have found widespread use in industry in a number of applications, including as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, blowing agents, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, and fire suppression.

However, certain compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are suspected of depleting atmospheric ozone and, thus, are harmful to the environment. Moreover, some of these compounds are believed to contribute to global warming. Accordingly, it is desirable to use fluorocarbon fluids having low or even zero ozone depletion potential, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), or those with a photolyzable carbon iodine bond, which exhibit short atmospheric lifetime when released at ground level. The use of single component fluids or azeotrope mixtures, which do not fractionate on boiling and evaporation, is also desirable.

Unfortunately, the identification of new, environmentally-safe, non-fractionating mixtures is complicated due to the fact that azeotrope formation is not predictable.

The industry is continually seeking new fluorocarbon-based mixtures that offer alternatives, and are considered environmentally safer substitutes for CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs in use today. Of particular interest are iodide containing compounds and other fluorinated compounds, which have low ozone depletion potentials and low global warming potentials. Such mixtures are the subject of this disclosure.

Although iodide containing compounds are of great potential interest, the purification of iodide containing compounds such as trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) has presented challenges, and techniques for the removal of impurities from trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) such as, for example, trifluoromethane (HFC-23), are in constant demand. Therefore, separation techniques such as azeotropic distillation, for example, would be highly desirable.

What is needed are compositions and techniques that may be used to prepare iodide containing compounds, such as trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), of high purity.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl).

The present disclosure further provides methods to break the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition in order to separate the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions from one another.

Methods provided by the present disclosure to break the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may include extractive distillation, azeotropic extraction, liquid-liquid extraction and absorption. Each of these methods may involve the introduction of a solvent.

In one example, the present disclosure provides a method of breaking an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) by contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent, and extracting one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) into the solvent to form a first composition including the solvent and one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl).

The first and second compositions may then be separated from one another. Suitable separation methods may include extractive distillation, for example.

Following separation, the first and second compositions may be further purified, if desired. This further purification may be accomplished by phase separation, distillation, extraction, or chromatographic methods. Following the optional purification step, purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may contain trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less. Alternatively, purified trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may contains trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.

The present disclosure further provides a method of separating the components of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) comprising contacting, within an extractive distillation column, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent to form a first composition including the solvent and one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The first and second compositions may then be distilled to provide a first distillate comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a first bottoms product comprising the solvent and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). Following the distilling step, an additional step of purifying the first bottoms product by distillation to produce a second distillate and a second bottoms product may be performed. The second distillate may comprise purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may contain trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less. Alternatively, the second distillate may comprise purified trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may contain trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plot of temperature vs. weight percent trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) measured according to Example 1.

FIG. 2 corresponds to Example 3 and is a plot of temperature versus composition (mass fraction of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I)) with two curves placed at an arbitrary low-pressure and at an arbitrary high-pressure, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary pressure swing distillation configuration.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary extractive distillation configuration.

FIG. 5 shows solubility curves of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl, “TFAC”) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in toluene as described in Example 7A.

FIG. 6 shows solubility curves of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl, “TFAC”) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in mineral oil as described in Example 8A.

FIG. 7 shows solubility curves of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl, “TFAC”) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in acetonitrile as described in Example 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

I. Azeotrope and Azeotrope-Like Compositions

It has been found that trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) forms homogeneous, minimum boiling azeotrope and azeotrope-like compositions or mixtures with trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), and the present disclosure provides homogeneous azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions may consist essentially of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), or the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions may consist of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

The present inventors have found experimentally that trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

An “azeotrope” composition is a unique combination of two or more components. An azeotrope composition can be characterized in various ways. For example, at a given pressure, an azeotrope composition boils at a constant characteristic temperature which is either greater than the higher boiling point component (maximum boiling azeotrope) or less than the lower boiling point component (minimum boiling azeotrope). At this characteristic temperature the same composition will exist in both the vapor and liquid phases. The azeotrope composition does not fractionate upon boiling or evaporation. Therefore, the components of the azeotrope composition cannot be separated during a phase change.

An azeotrope composition is also characterized in that at the characteristic azeotrope temperature, the bubble point pressure of the liquid phase is identical to the dew point pressure of the vapor phase.

The behavior of an azeotrope composition is in contrast with that of a non-azeotrope composition in which during boiling or evaporation, the liquid composition changes to a substantial degree.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, an azeotrope composition is characterized as that composition which boils at a constant characteristic temperature, the temperature being lower (a minimum boiling azeotrope) than the boiling points of the two or more components, and thereby having the same composition in both the vapor and liquid phases.

One of ordinary skill in the art would understand however that at different pressures, both the composition and the boiling point of the azeotrope composition will vary to some extent. Therefore, depending on the temperature and/or pressure, an azeotrope composition can have a variable composition. The skilled person would therefore understand that composition ranges, rather than fixed compositions, can be used to define azeotrope compositions. In addition, an azeotrope may be defined in terms of exact weight percentages of each component of the compositions characterized by a fixed boiling point at a specified pressure.

An “azeotrope-like” composition is a composition of two or more components which behaves substantially as an azeotrope composition. Thus, for the purposes of this disclosure, an azeotrope-like composition is a combination of two or more different components which, when in liquid form under given pressure, will boil at a substantially constant temperature, and which will provide a vapor composition substantially identical to the liquid composition undergoing boiling.

For the purposes of this disclosure, an azeotrope-like composition is a composition or range of compositions which boils at a temperature range of between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia, including, for example, a composition or range of compositions which boils at a temperature range of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia.

Azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions can be identified using a number of different methods.

For the purposes of this disclosure the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is identified experimentally using an ebulliometer (Walas, Phase Equilibria in Chemical Engineering, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1985, 533-544). An ebulliometer is designed to provide extremely accurate measurements of the boiling points of liquids by measuring the temperature of the vapor-liquid equilibrium.

The boiling points of each of the components alone are measured at a constant pressure. As the skilled person will appreciate, for a binary azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition, the boiling point of one of the components of the composition is initially measured. The second component of the composition is then added in varying amounts and the boiling point of each of the obtained compositions is measured using the ebulliometer at said constant pressure.

The measured boiling points are plotted against the composition of the tested composition, for example, for a binary azeotrope, the amount of the second component added to the composition, (expressed as either weight % or mole %). The presence of an azeotrope composition can be identified by the observation of a maximum or minimum boiling temperature which is greater or less than the boiling points of any of the components alone.

As the skilled person will appreciate, the identification of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is made by the comparison of the change in the boiling point of the composition on addition of the second component to the first component, relative to the boiling point of the first component. Thus, it is not necessary that the system be calibrated to the reported boiling point of the particular components in order to measure the change in boiling point.

As previously discussed, at the maximum or minimum boiling point, the composition of the vapor phase will be identical to the composition of the liquid phase. The azeotrope-like composition is therefore that composition of components which provides a substantially constant minimum or maximum boiling point, that is a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia, such as, for example, a boiling point of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia, at which substantially constant boiling point the composition of the vapor phase will be substantially identical to the composition of the liquid phase.

The present disclosure provides an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition which comprises effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition. As used herein, the term “effective amount” is an amount of each component which, when combined with the other component, results in the formation of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like mixture.

The present azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions may consist essentially of combinations of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) or consist of combinations of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

As used herein, the term “consisting essentially of”, with respect to the components of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition or mixture, means the composition contains the indicated components in an azeotrope or azeotrope-like ratio, and may contain additional components provided that the additional components do not form new azeotrope or azeotrope-like systems. For example, azeotrope mixtures consisting essentially of two compounds are those that form binary azeotropes, which optionally may include one or more additional components, provided that the additional components do not render the mixture non-azeotropic and do not form an azeotrope with either or both of the compounds (e.g., do not form a ternary or higher azeotrope).

The present disclosure also provides a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition by mixing, combining, or blending, effective amounts of, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). Any of a wide variety of methods known in the art for combining two or more components to form a composition can be used in the present methods. For example, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) can be mixed, blended, or otherwise combined by hand and/or by machine, as part of a batch or continuous reaction and/or process, or via combinations of two or more such steps. Both trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) are commercially available and can be procured from several different vendors. The components can be provided in the required amounts, for example by weighing and then combining the amounts.

The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia, and consists essentially of, or consists of, from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition having a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia may also consist essentially of, or consist of, about 4.4 wt. %, 10.7 wt. %, 16.9 wt. %, 23.1 wt. %, 29.3 wt. %, 35.5 wt. %, 41.9 wt. %, 48.4 wt. %, 55.1 wt. %, 62.1 wt. %, 69.7 wt. %, 77.9 wt. %, 87.3 wt. %, or 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), or within any range defined between any two of the foregoing values, and about 95.6 wt. %, 89.3 wt. %, 83.1 wt. %, 76.9 wt. %, 70.7 wt. %, 64.5 wt. %, 58.1 wt. %, 51.6 wt. %, 44.9 wt. %, 37.9 wt. %, 30.3 wt. %, 22.1 wt. %, or 12.7 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), or within any range defined between any two of the foregoing values.

Further azeotrope compositions include about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 0.5 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −46.0° C. and a pressure of about 4.9 psia; about 95.6 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 4.4 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −40.0° C. and a pressure of about 6.6 psia; about 89.3 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 10.7 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −30.0° C. and a pressure of about 10.5 psia; about 83.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 16.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −20.0° C. and a pressure of about 16.0 psia; about 76.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 23.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −10.0° C. and a pressure of about 23.5 psia; about 70.7 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 29.3 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 0.0° C. and a pressure of about 33.7 psia; about 64.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 35.5 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 10.0° C. and a pressure of about 46.9 psia; about 58.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 41.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 20.0° C. and a pressure of about 63.9 psia; about 51.6 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 48.4 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 30.0° C. and a pressure of about 85.1 psia; about 44.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 55.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 40.0° C. and a pressure of about 111.4 psia; about 37.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 62.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 50.0° C. and a pressure of about 143.5 psia; about 30.3 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 69.7 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 60.0° C. and a pressure of about 182.1 psia; about 22.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 77.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 70.0° C. and a pressure of about 228.2 psia; about 12.7 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 87.3 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 80.0° C. and a pressure of about 283.1 psia; and about 1.0 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 90.0° C. and a pressure of about 348.0 psia.

The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may consist essentially of, or consist of, from about 0.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), from about 2 wt. % to about 21 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), from about 14 wt. % to about 18 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and, in one azeotrope, about 14.87 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), as well as from about 75 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), from about 79 wt. % to about 98 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), from about 82 wt. % to about 86 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and, in one azeotrope, about 85.13 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia.

In other words, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may consist essentially of, or consist of, from about 0.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 75 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), or from about 2 wt. % to about 21 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 79 wt. % to about 98 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), or from about 14 wt. % to about 18 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 82 wt. % to about 86 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and, in one azeotrope, about 14.87 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and about 85.13 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia.

Stated alternatively, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of, or consists of, as little as about 0.5 wt. %, about 2 wt. % or about 14 wt. %, or as great as about 18 wt. %, about 21 wt. % or about 25 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), or within any range defined between any two of the foregoing values, and the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of, or consists of, as little as about 75 wt. %, about 79 wt. % or about 82 wt. %, or as great as about 86 wt. %, about 98 wt. % or about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), or within any range defined between any two of the foregoing values. The azeotrope composition consists essentially of, or consists of, about 14.87 wt. % and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and about 85.13 wt. % of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of the present disclosure has a boiling point of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia.

The present disclosure also provides a composition comprising the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition. For example, there is provided a composition comprising at least about 14 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions, or at least about 21 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions, or at least about 25 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions, or at least about 70 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions, or at least about 90 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like compositions.

II. Separating Impurities from the Azeotrope or Azeotrope-Like Compositions.

The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) disclosed herein may be used for separating impurities from trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and/or trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). One impurity that may be present in trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) is trifluoromethane (HFC-23).

The preparation of azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) allows separation techniques such as azeotropic distillation, for example, to be used to remove impurities from trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to provide trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) of high purity.

In particular, an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may be formed from a composition including one or both of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) together with one or more other chemical compounds other than trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), such as impurities. One such impurity is trifluoromethane (HFC-23), for example. Following the formation of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may be separated from the other chemical compounds by a suitable method, such as by distillation, phase separation, or fractionation.

In one example, the present disclosure provides a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) as an impurity from a primary, crude composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) which includes trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) as an impurity together with at least one additional impurity, comprising the steps of providing a primary composition of crude trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) as an impurity, and at least one additional impurity, and subjecting the primary composition to conditions effective to form a secondary composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of, or consisting of, effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), and separating the secondary composition from the primary composition by a separation technique such as phase separation, distillation, or fractionation, for example. Thereafter, the secondary composition may be subjected to further separation or purification steps to obtain purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

In another example, a composition may be provided which includes one of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), together with at least one impurity. To this composition, the other of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is added in a sufficient amount and the composition is subjected to conditions effective to form a composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of, or consisting of, effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), followed by separating the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition from the impurity by a separation technique such as phase separation, distillation, or fractionation, for example. Thereafter, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may be subjected to further separation or purification steps to obtain purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

In another example discussed in detail below in Example 3, the pressure sensitivity of the present azeotropic compositions allows the separation of compositions including trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form essentially pure compositions of each of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) by “pressure swing” distillation.

One method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition including trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) includes the initial step of conveying a feed stream including the primary composition to a low-pressure column. A bottoms product may be collected from the low-pressure column which consists essentially of pure trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). A first distillate is then conveyed from the low-pressure column to a high-pressure column via a pump or compressor to increase the pressure, where the first distillate is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). A second bottoms product may be collected from the high-pressure column which consists essentially of pure trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The method may further include, after the second collecting step, the additional step of recycling the second distillate from the high-pressure column back to the feed stream comprising the primary composition.

Similarly, another method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition including trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) includes the initial step of conveying a feed stream including the primary composition to a high-pressure column. A bottoms product may be collected from the high-pressure column which consists essentially of pure trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). A first distillate is then conveyed from the high-pressure column to a low-pressure column, where the first distillate is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). A second bottoms product may be collected from the low-pressure column which consists essentially of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The method may further include, after the second collecting step, the additional step of recycling a second distillate from the low-pressure column via a pump or compressor back to the feed stream comprising the primary composition.

III. Breaking the Azeotrope or Azeotrope-Like Compositions.

The components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition (trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may be difficult to separate from one another; in other words, it may be difficult to break the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

One method provided by the present disclosure to break the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) comprises contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent, extracting one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) into the solvent to form a first composition including the solvent and one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), and separating the first and second compositions. Following separation, the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and/or the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may be purified.

Specifically, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may be contacted with a solvent, to selectively interact with, or absorb, one of the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition, resulting in a first composition and a second composition. The first composition comprises a one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the solvent, depending upon which of these components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like mixture the solvent selectively interacts with. The second composition comprises the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The first and second compositions may then be separated from one another.

As used herein, in connection with breaking the or azeotrope-like compositions, the term “solvent” refers to one or more chemical compounds that selectively interacts with one of the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition. For example, one of the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition may be selectively absorbed into the solvent, thereby separating the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition. Suitable solvents may include sulfur dioxide (SO₂), mineral oil, toluene, acetonitrile, or a combination of two or more of these, for example. Mineral oil refers to a light mixture of higher alkanes from a mineral source, such as a petroleum distillate.

In particular, breaking the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition occurs upon contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with the solvent. This may be accomplished by simple blending of azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with the solvent, such as by mixing or in a distillation column. Optionally, the blend may be subjected to distillation conditions.

After contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with the solvent, sufficient contact time between the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition allows the mixture to reach equilibrium conditions. Once equilibrium is reached, one component of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition will be found predominantly in the solvent, while the other component will be predominantly excluded from the solvent.

Specifically, the ratio of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in the solvent may be about 2.0:1.0 or greater, about 2.5:1.0 or greater, about 3.0:1.0 or greater, about 3.5:1.0 or greater, about 5.0:1.0 or greater, about 10.0:1.0 or greater, about 100:1.0 or greater, or about 1000:1.0 or greater. Alternatively, the ratio of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) to trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in the solvent may be about 2.0:1.0 or greater, about 2.5:1.0 or greater, about 3.0:1.0 or greater, about 3.5:1.0 or greater 5.0:1.0 or greater, about 10.0:1.0 or greater, about 100:1.0 or greater, or about 1000:1.0 or greater.

Following the addition of the solvent, several possible methods exist by which the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may be separated from one another, including pressure swing distillation, azeotropic extraction, liquid-liquid extraction, absorption or extractive distillation, for example.

In one example, the present disclosure provides a method to separate the components of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition (trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) using extractive distillation. As shown in FIG. 4 , the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition 10 may be fed to an extractive distillation column 14. A solvent 12 may be fed to the extractive distillation column 14, such that the solvent 12 contacts the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition 10, resulting in a first composition comprising one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) which comprises a first distillate 16, and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) or the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the solvent, which comprises a first bottoms product 18. The first distillate 16 may be recycled back to a prior process flow and/or may be subjected to purification. The first bottoms product 18 may then be passed to a distillation column 20 to produce a second distillate 22 and a second bottoms product 24. The second distillate 22 comprises a product stream of one of purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) or purified trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The second bottoms product 24 comprises recovered solvent, which may be purged 26. Alternatively, the recovered solvent 28 may be recycled, first via an optional cooler 30 to reduce the temperature of the solvent. Additional solvent 32 may be added if necessary, and the recovered solvent 28 and additional solvent 32 may be passed to an optional solvent recovery vessel 34. From the optional solvent recovery vessel 34, the solvent may pass through a solvent recycle pump 36 to join solvent stream 12 prior to being fed to the extractive distillation column 14.

The extractive distillation column may be a single-stage flash column. Alternatively, the extractive distillation column may be a multi-stage column.

In one example of the method shown in FIG. 4 , the first composition may comprise trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the second composition may comprise trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the solvent. Following extractive distillation, the first distillate may comprise trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), which may be recycled back to the reactor. The first bottoms product, comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the solvent may then be passed to a distillation column to produce a second distillate comprising a product stream of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and a second bottoms comprising recovered solvent, which may be purged or recycled back to the extractive distillation column. In a further step, the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may optionally be purified.

The purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) may contain trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less, about 0.8 wt. % or less, 0.7 wt. % or less 0.5 wt. % or less, 0.3 wt. % or less, or 0.1 wt. % or less.

In an alternative example of the method shown in FIG. 4 , the first composition may comprise trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), and the second composition may comprise trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the solvent. Following extractive distillation, the first distillate may comprise trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), which may be recycled back to the reactor. The first bottoms product, comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the solvent may then be passed to a distillation column to produce a second distillate comprising a product stream of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a second bottoms comprising recovered solvent, which may be purged or recycled back to the extractive distillation column. In a further step, the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may optionally be purified.

The purified trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may contain trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less, about 0.8 wt. % or less, 0.7 wt. % or less 0.5 wt. % or less, 0.3 wt. % or less, or 0.1 wt. % or less

The following non-limiting Examples serve to illustrate the disclosure.

EXAMPLES Example 1—Ebulliometer Study

An ebulliometer was used to measure azeotrope and azeotrope-like compositions of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The ebulliometer included a vacuum jacketed glass vessel which was sealed at the bottom and open to the atmosphere at the top. The top, or condenser jacket, of the ebulliometer was filled with a mixture of dry ice and ethanol to attain a temperature of about −72° C., which is significantly lower than the saturation temperature of −20.2° C. for trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and −22.4° C. for trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) at a pressure of 14.4 psia. In this manner, it was ensured that all vapors in the system were condensed and flowed back into the ebulliometer such that the liquid and vapor phases were in equilibrium. A quartz-platinum thermometer with an accuracy of ±0.002° C. was inserted inside the glass vessel and used to determine the temperature of the condensed vapor corresponding to the equilibrium boiling point of the mixture. Boiling chips were used to assist with maintaining a smooth boiling of the mixture in the ebulliometer.

The following procedure was used.

1. The quartz thermometer was immersed into a long dewar which contained an ice/water slurry and it was verified that the thermometer read 0° C. The dewar was deep enough so that at least % the length of the thermometer shaft was immersed in the ice/water. The thermometer resistance was recorded in ohms.

2. The condenser jacket was loaded to ¼ full with ethanol. The condenser jacket was cooled by slowly introducing dry ice to avoid boiling over and/or splashing of the ethanol.

3. A known amount of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) or trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) was added to the ebulliometer and brought to a vigorously refluxing condition. The temperature and atmospheric pressure were recorded using a barometer with a temperature indicator.

The measurement was carried out in two steps. In a first step, about 24.15 g of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) having a purity of 99.88 area % as determined by gas chromatography (GC) was first introduced to the ebulliometer by weighing the container before and after the addition using a balance having an accuracy of ±0.01 g. The liquid was brought to a boil and the equilibrium temperature of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) was recorded at the recorded barometric pressure. Then, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) having a purity of 98 area % as determined by gas chromatography (GC) was introduced in small increments into the ebulliometer and the equilibrium temperature of the condensed liquid mixture was recorded.

In a second step, about 15.66 g of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) having a purity of 98 area % as determined by gas chromatography (GC) was introduced to the ebulliometer by weighing the container before and after the addition using a balance having an accuracy of ±0.01 g. The liquid was brought to a boil and the equilibrium temperature of the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) was recorded at the recorded barometric pressure. Then, trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) having a purity of 99.88 area % as determined by gas chromatography (GC) was introduced in small increments into the ebulliometer and the equilibrium temperature of the condensed liquid mixture was recorded.

Data from the above first and second steps was combined to complete the composition range data from 0 to 100 weight percent of each of the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) presented below in Table 1, which shows a minimum in temperature which indicates that an azeotrope had been formed, and this data is also presented in graphic form in FIG. 1 . The bubble point temperature of the mixture remained constant indicating that the mixture was azeotrope-like over a large composition range.

TABLE 1 Ebulliometer Study of CF₃l/Trifluoroacetyl Chloride at P = 14.4 psia Temp. Weight % Weight % (° C.) CF₃l CF₃COCl −22.36 100.00 0.00 −22.41 97.58 2.42 −22.45 95.80 4.20 −22.50 90.25 9.75 −22.51 85.13 14.87 −22.49 82.28 17.72 −22.47 78.66 21.34 −22.44 74.95 25.05 −22.40 70.68 29.32 −22.34 65.75 34.25 −22.31 63.84 36.16 −22.21 58.36 41.64 −22.13 55.24 44.76 −22.20 58.02 41.98 −22.09 52.73 47.27 −22.03 50.27 49.73 −21.89 44.55 55.45 −21.78 39.65 60.35 −21.67 36.80 63.20 −21.58 33.53 66.47 −21.23 20.95 79.05 −20.90 15.94 84.06 −20.78 12.47 87.53 −20.68 9.53 90.47 −20.54 7.17 92.83 −20.45 4.92 95.08 −20.30 2.06 97.94 −20.23 0.00 100.00

Example 2—Azeotrope Locus

In E. W. Lemmon et al., A Generalized Model for the Thermodynamic Properties of Mixtures, International Journal of Thermophysics, Vol. 20, pp. 825-835 (1999), the authors describe a method for accurately characterizing the thermodynamic properties of mixtures. The proposed Helmholtz Energy Equation of State (HEOS) considers pure component and interaction parameters of mixture constituents to determine any thermodynamic quantity including mixture vapor and liquid equilibrium compositions which are used for identifying the existence and composition of azeotropes. After reducing the ebulliometer measurements of Example 1 into the HEOS interaction parameters described on page 828 of the foregoing publication, incorporating the pure component thermodynamic properties of both trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), and evaluating the vapor-liquid equilibrium compositions using the thermodynamic relationships described on page 830-831 of the foregoing publication, it was discovered that the azeotropic composition is unusually sensitive to the system temperature and pressure.

For example, at the system pressure of the ebulliometer in Example 1 (14.4 psia), the azeotropic composition was identified at about 85 wt. % CF₃I. However, at an increased system pressure of about 47 psia, the azeotropic composition moves closer to 65 wt. % of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). While not wishing to be bound by theory, the sensitivity of the azeotrope to system conditions appears to be a consequence of the relative volatilities between trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). Examining the VLE of these components as a function of different system conditions yields a locus of azeotropes, shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Azeotrope Locus Azeotropic Composition Temp. Pressure Wt. % Wt. % (° C.) (psia) CF₃l CF₃COCl −46.0 4.9 99.5 0.5 −40.0 6.6 95.6 4.4 −30.0 10.5 89.3 10.7 −20.0 16.0 83.1 16.9 −10.0 23.5 76.9 23.1 0.0 33.7 70.7 29.3 10.0 46.9 64.5 35.5 20.0 63.9 58.1 41.9 30.0 85.1 51.6 48.4 40.0 111.4 44.9 55.1 50.0 143.5 37.9 62.1 60.0 182.1 30.3 69.7 70.0 228.2 22.1 77.9 80.0 283.1 12.7 87.3 90.0 348.0 1.0 99.0

Example 3—Pressure Swing Separation

A well-known consequence of azeotropic mixtures is the inability to fully separate its constituents in a single distillation operation. For example, separation of a 50/50 wt. % mixture of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) by a distillation column held at 14.4 psia, exhibiting azeotropic behavior as described by Example 1, would be bounded by compositions between the pure trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) (i.e., 0 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I)) endpoint and the minimum boiling azeotropic composition (about 85 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I)). In other words, distillation of a mixture at these conditions would be unable to produce trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in a purity greater than 85 wt. %. To address this fundamental barrier of azeotropes and attain both purer trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), a different separation strategy must be realized.

As noted by Example 2, the azeotropic composition of binary mixtures of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) was discovered to be unusually sensitive to the system conditions. This sensitivity can be exploited to support better separation through pressure swing distillation. In this system, a pressure-sensitive azeotrope is separated using two distillation columns in sequence, one at an arbitrary, relatively lower pressure and one at an arbitrary, relatively higher pressure. The columns may be disposed such that the lower pressure column is first in the sequence. Alternatively, the higher pressure column may be first in the sequence. For the purposes of this example, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the columns are disposed with the lower pressure column first in the sequence.

A mixture of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is first subjected to distillation at a lower pressure. The particular composition of the mixture may be tailored as needed. For the purposes of this representative example, a mixture comprising 50 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and 50 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is used. Referring now to FIG. 2 , this mixture is designated Composition A (“Comp. ‘A’”). Referring now to FIG. 3 , the mixture, stream 10, is fed to a distillation column 12 at an arbitrary low-pressure (20 psia for the purposes of this Example).

As shown in FIG. 2 , Composition A (stream 10 in FIG. 3 ) has not yet reached the azeotrope point. As such, the mixture may be separated into fractions enriched in one component of the mixture and the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition. Here, fractions enriched in the higher boiling point component, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), are collected as the bottoms product and are designated as Composition C (“Comp. ‘C’”) in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and stream 16 in FIG. 3 . The azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is designated as Composition B (“Comp. ‘B’”) in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is the distillate from the low-pressure column 12 shown in FIG. 3 . This mixture is then passed to a column 14 at an arbitrary higher pressure (100 psia for the purposes of this Example), following stream 14 in FIG. 3 .

Referring now to FIG. 2 , the point representing Composition B in the high-pressure curve is now on the other side of the azeotropic composition in comparison to the low-pressure curve. This permits fractions enriched in the other component of the mixture to be collected. In this Example, fractions enriched in trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) are collected as the bottoms product and are designated as Composition D (“Comp. ‘D’”) in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and stream 20 in FIG. 3 . As with the lower pressure column, the distillate comprises the azeotrope or azeotrope-like mixture. This mixture may be recycled back to co-mingle with Composition A following stream 22 in FIG. 3 .

In this way, the barrier of the azeotrope is addressed, using the sensitivity of its composition to the column conditions, to produce two streams enriched in both components. It is important to note that the details in this example are meant to be illustrative. Depending on the context of the mixture, the column conditions and configurations can be designed to support nearly any desired purities of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and/or trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl).

Example 4—Separation of Impurities

In this Example, a crude composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) is provided, including trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) as an impurity, along with one or more other impurities such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23). The relative amounts of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) are altered if necessary to form sufficient relative amounts and the composition is subjected to distillation at conditions effective to form and separate an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) from the remainder of the composition. The separated azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is removed from the remaining crude composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) as a light component. The remaining crude composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) is then subjected to different temperature and pressure conditions wherein the other impurities such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23) may be separated by further distillation to obtain purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Example 5—Separation of Impurities

In this example, a composition is provided which includes trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and at least one impurity such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23), for example. To this composition, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is added in a sufficient amount and the composition is subjected to conditions effective to form a composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of, or consisting of, effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), followed by separating the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition from the impurity by a separation technique such as phase separation, distillation, or fractionation, for example. Thereafter, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may be subjected to further separation or purification steps to obtain purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Example 6—Separation of Impurities

In this example, a composition is provided which includes trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and at least one impurity such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23), for example. To this composition, trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) is added in a sufficient amount and the composition is subjected to conditions effective to form a composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of, or consisting of, effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), followed by separating the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition from the impurity by a separation technique such as phase separation, distillation, or fractionation, for example. Thereafter, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) may be subjected to further separation or purification steps to obtain purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Example 7A—Differential Solubility of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and Trifluoroacetyl Chloride (CF₃COCl) in Toluene

Static Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Methods are a class of experimental techniques that can be used to identify thermodynamic interactions between a solvent (i.e. absorbing species) and a target solute (i.e. species being absorbed). One such technique, known as the PTx method, collects measurements of the total saturation pressure (“P”) exerted by mixtures of known compositions (“x”) at fixed temperatures (“T”) and cell volumes. (Walas, Phase Equilibria in Chemical Engineering, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1985, pp. 537). Using data collected from the PTx experiment, as well as pure component properties of constituents of the mixtures, the thermodynamic properties of the mixtures can be accurately characterized by fitting the component's interaction parameters in a well-defined thermodynamic equation; one such equation is the Nonrandom, Two-liquid (NRTL) activity coefficient model by Renon and Prausnitz (Local Compositions in Thermodynamic Excess Functions for Liquid Mixtures, AIChE Journal, Vol. 14, January 1968, pp. 135-144).

From a well-characterized thermodynamic model (such as NRTL fit against PTx data), solubility curves can be generated. The solubility is defined as the liquid composition of the solute in the liquid phase at saturation, generally as a function of pressure and temperature. By comparing solubility curves for different solutes, the solvent's selectivity (i.e. preference) towards a particular solute can be identified; the larger the selectivity the more the solvent prefers to absorb one species while rejecting the other.

A set of volume calibrated PTx cells were used to measure the solubility characteristics of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in toluene as well as trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in toluene. Mixtures of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and toluene as well as trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and toluene were gravimetrically prepared into evacuated PTx cells. Once prepared, each of up to four cells of differing compositions were inserted into a thermostated chamber. In the chamber, each cell was attached to an instrumentation manifold equipped with calibrated pressure transducers and resistance temperature detectors (RTD); this provided a means to measure and record the total saturation pressure of each cell's contents at its local temperature. To establish equilibrium at a target temperature, the set point of the chamber was adjusted sequentially to −10° C., 10° C., 30° C., or 50° C. Once at equilibrium, recognized when temperature and pressures of each cell remain stable for several hours, the local temperature and saturation pressures of each cell were recorded and adjustments for the next set point were made. From these pressure-temperature-composition data, the binary interaction parameters of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with toluene and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with toluene for the NRTL activity coefficient model were identified. These data and model fit for both trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with toluene and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with toluene are reported in Table 3 and Table 4 respectively.

Table 3, below, shows the PTx data for trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with toluene fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 3 Composition Data Model (NRTL) (mass %) T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Toluene CF₃l (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 94.1%  5.9% −9.81 0.7 0.6 0.1 88.5% 11.5% −9.86 1.0 1.2 0.2 79.6% 20.4% −9.70 2.3 2.2 0.1 58.4% 41.6% −9.52 5.3 5.2 0.2 94.1%  5.9% 9.78 1.5 1.5 0.1 88.5% 11.5% 9.76 2.5 2.7 0.2 79.6% 20.4% 10.27 5.0 4.8 0.2 58.4% 41.6% 10.12 10.7 10.7 0.0 94.1%  5.9% 29.38 3.0 2.9 0.1 88.5% 11.5% 29.53 4.7 5.1 0.4 79.6% 20.4% 29.83 9.1 8.9 0.2 58.4% 41.6% 29.83 19.2 19.3 0.1 94.1%  5.9% 49.35 5.5 5.3 0.2 88.5% 11.5% 49.46 8.5 8.8 0.3 79.6% 20.4% 49.82 15.2 15.0 0.2 58.4% 41.6% 49.78 31.6 31.5 0.1

Table 4, below, shows the PTx data for trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with toluene fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 4 Composition Data Model (NRTL) (mass %) T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Toluene CF₃COCl (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 94.1%  5.9% −9.59 3.3 3.3 0.0 88.1% 11.9% −9.62 6.1 6.0 0.1 79.2% 20.8% −9.54 9.3 9.1 0.2 58.7% 41.3% −9.66 13.5 13.5 0.0 94.1%  5.9% 9.90 5.8 5.9 0.0 88.1% 11.9% 10.02 11.0 10.8 0.2 79.2% 20.8% 10.05 16.9 16.7 0.2 58.7% 41.3% 10.07 26.0 25.9 0.0 94.1%  5.9% 29.40 9.5 9.6 0.1 88.1% 11.9% 29.55 17.6 17.6 0.1 79.2% 20.8% 29.63 27.6 27.6 0.0 58.7% 41.3% 29.71 44.3 44.5 0.2 94.1%  5.9% 49.23 14.2 14.6 0.3 88.1% 11.9% 49.49 26.2 26.4 0.3 79.2% 20.8% 49.50 41.4 41.8 0.5 58.7% 41.3% 49.63 69.2 70.0 0.8

Using the NRTL model generated from the PTx data, the solubility of both trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) for a given temperature and pressure can be determined and compared. As shown in FIG. 5 , trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) solubility is about 40.8 mass % while trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) solubility is about 11.6 mass % around ambient conditions. This demonstrates that toluene is about 3.5 times more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) over trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) under these conditions, and generally more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) under other conditions.

Example 7B—Extractive Distillation of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in Toluene

A gas-phase stream comprising an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of 75 wt. % and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of 25 wt. % is routed to the bottom of an extractive distillation column. However, the foregoing composition is exemplary and the technique embodied in this Example may be used to separate any composition of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). A liquid-phase solvent stream comprising toluene in an amount of 99.99 wt. % and trifluoroiodomethane in an amount of 0.01 wt. % is routed to the top of the extractive distillation column. The gas-phase stream is bubbled through the liquid-phase stream within the extractive distillation column to selectively absorb the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) into the toluene.

The extractive distillation results in a first distillate stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of 66.50 wt. %, trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of 33.31 wt. %, and toluene in an amount of 0.19 wt. %. This distillate stream may be recycled back to the reactors described in the above Examples. The extractive distillation further results in a first bottoms product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of 20.03 wt. %, toluene in an amount of 79.95 wt. %, and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of 0.01%. The bottoms stream may then be routed to a solvent recovery distillation column. The distillation results in a second distillate stream comprising purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of 99.94 wt. % and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of 0.06 wt. %. The distillation further results in a second bottoms product stream comprising toluene in an amount of 99.99 wt. % and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of 0.01 wt. %. The second bottoms product may be recycled through a solvent phase cooler to pass back to the extractive distillation column.

Example 8A—Differential Solubility of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and Trifluoroacetyl Chloride (CF₃COCl) in Mineral Oil

Following the same procedure described in Example 7A, the PTx behavior of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with mineral oil and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with mineral oil was studied at temperatures of 0° C., 20° C., 40° C., and 60° C. Unlike toluene (a single aromatic hydrocarbon entity), the mineral oil solvent comprised a mixture several types of hydrocarbons such as alkanes, cycloalkanes, and others. From the pressure-temperature-composition data, the binary interaction parameters of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with mineral oil and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with mineral oil for the NRTL activity coefficient model were identified. The data and model fit are reported in Table 5 and Table 6 respectively.

Table 5, below, shows PTx data for trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with mineral oil fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 5 Composition (mass %) Data Model (NRTL) Mineral T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Oil CF₃l (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 94.3%  5.7% 0.02 4.9 4.3 0.6 90.7%  9.3% 0.02 5.9 6.6 0.7 78.7% 21.3% 0.22 12.6 13.0 0.4 59.9% 40.1% 0.27 21.1 20.1 1.0 94.3%  5.7% 19.74 7.3 7.0 0.3 90.7%  9.3% 19.86 9.7 10.9 1.2 78.7% 21.3% 20.13 21.9 22.6 0.7 59.9% 40.1% 20.03 37.5 36.1 1.4 94.3%  5.7% 39.62 10.5 9.7 0.8 90.7%  9.3% 39.67 14.9 15.4 0.5 78.7% 21.3% 39.98 34.1 33.9 0.2 59.9% 40.1% 39.95 60.6 57.7 2.9 94.3%  5.7% 59.19 12.4 12.2 0.2 90.7%  9.3% 59.37 18.9 19.6 0.7 78.7% 21.3% 59.80 44.9 45.7 0.8 59.9% 40.1% 59.72 83.5 83.0 0.5

Table 6, below, shows PTx data for trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with mineral oil fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 6 Composition (mass %) Data Model (NRTL) Mineral T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Oil CF₃COCl (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 94.8%  5.2% 0.24 13.2 12.3 0.9 89.3% 10.7% 0.19 19.4 20.7 1.3 78.8% 21.2% 0.30 28.8 28.6 0.2 59.2% 40.8% 0.21 31.7 31.2 0.5 94.8%  5.2% 19.83 17.7 18.3 0.6 89.3% 10.7% 19.90 31.9 33.1 1.2 78.8% 21.2% 19.89 50.0 50.4 0.4 59.2% 40.8% 19.94 60.9 59.8 1.1 94.8%  5.2% 39.51 25.6 24.6 1.0 89.3% 10.7% 39.66 47.5 47.2 0.3 78.8% 21.2% 39.71 79.1 79.0 0.1 59.2% 40.8% 39.83 103.5 103.8 0.3 94.8%  5.2% 59.09 30.4 30.7 0.3 89.3% 10.7% 59.28 60.8 61.4 0.6 78.8% 21.2% 59.30 112.2 110.7 1.5 59.2% 40.8% 59.50 162.5 162.6 0.1

Using the NRTL model generated from the PTx data, the solubility of both trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) for a given temperature and pressure can be determined and compared. As shown in FIG. 6 , trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) solubility is about 12.2 mass % while trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) solubility is about 3.6 mass % at or near ambient conditions. This demonstrates that mineral oil is about 3.4 times more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) over trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) under these conditions, and generally more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) under other conditions.

Example 8B—Extractive Distillation of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in Mineral Oil

As described in Example 7B, a gas-phase stream comprising an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is routed to the bottom of an extractive distillation column. A liquid-phase solvent stream comprising mineral oil and trifluoroiodomethane is routed to the top of the extractive distillation column. The gas-phase stream is bubbled through the liquid-phase stream within the extractive distillation column to selectively absorb the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) into the mineral oil.

The extractive distillation results in a first distillate stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount greater than the amount of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), as well as a small amount of mineral oil. This distillate stream may be recycled back to the reactors described in the above Examples. The extractive distillation further results in a first bottoms product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), mineral oil, and a small amount of residual trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The first bottoms product stream may then be routed to a solvent recovery distillation column. The distillation results in a second distillate stream comprising purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and a small amount of residual trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The distillation further results in a second bottoms product stream comprising mineral oil and a small amount of residual trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The second bottoms product may be recycled through a solvent phase cooler to pass back to the extractive distillation column.

Example 9A—Differential Solubility of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and Trifluoroacetyl Chloride (CF₃COCl) in Acetonitrile

Following the same procedure as described in Example 7A, the PTx behavior of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with acetonitrile and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with acetonitrile was studied at temperatures of −10° C., 10° C., 30° C., and 50° C. From the pressure-temperature-composition data, the binary interaction parameters of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with acetonitrile and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with acetonitrile for the NRTL activity coefficient model were identified. The data and model fit are reported in Table 7 and Table 8 respectively.

Table 7, below, shows PTx data for trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) with acetonitrile fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 7 Composition Data Model (NRTL) (mass %) T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Acetonitrile CF₃l (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 93.9%  6.1% −9.61 0.9 0.9 0.0 88.5% 11.5% −9.76 1.3 1.4 0.1 79.5% 20.5% −9.65 2.6 2.4 0.2 57.9% 42.1% −9.49 5.3 5.4 0.1 93.9%  6.1% 9.99 2.2 2.1 0.1 88.5% 11.5% 9.75 3.2 3.3 0.1 79.5% 20.5% 10.17 5.7 5.4 0.3 57.9% 42.1% 10.08 11.0 11.3 0.3 93.9%  6.1% 29.47 4.4 4.4 0.0 88.5% 11.5% 29.55 6.4 6.6 0.2 79.5% 20.5% 29.92 10.7 10.5 0.2 57.9% 42.1% 29.93 20.4 20.7 0.3 93.9%  6.1% 49.38 8.5 8.6 0.1 88.5% 11.5% 49.51 11.7 12.1 0.4 79.5% 20.5% 49.86 18.4 18.1 0.3 57.9% 42.1% 49.78 34.3 33.7 0.6

Table 8, below, shows PTx data for trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) with acetonitrile fit against the NRTL activity coefficient model. The measured saturation pressure (P) is compared to the model's saturated pressure (P_(NRTL)) with corresponding absolute deviations (|Δ|).

TABLE 8 Composition Data Model (NRTL) (mass %) T P P_(NRTL) |Δ| Acetonitrile CF₃COCl (° C.) (psia) (psia) (psia) 94.7%  5.3% −9.27 1.9 2.1 0.2 88.1% 11.9% −9.41 4.6 4.3 0.3 78.6% 21.4% −9.56 7.9 7.4 0.5 59.7% 40.3% −9.60 12.3 12.8 0.5 94.7%  5.3% 9.88 4.0 4.1 0.1 88.1% 11.9% 10.01 8.4 8.2 0.2 78.6% 21.4% 10.03 14.3 13.9 0.4 59.7% 40.3% 10.11 24.2 24.5 0.3 94.7%  5.3% 29.55 7.2 7.4 0.2 88.1% 11.9% 29.67 14.4 14.1 0.3 78.6% 21.4% 29.69 24.0 23.7 0.3 59.7% 40.3% 29.76 42.0 42.1 0.1 94.7%  5.3% 49.32 12.5 12.7 0.2 88.1% 11.9% 49.48 23.0 22.8 0.2 78.6% 21.4% 49.53 37.4 37.4 0.0 59.7% 40.3% 49.65 66.4 66.6 0.2

Using the NRTL model generated from the PTx data, the solubility of both trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) for a given temperature and pressure can be determined and compared. As shown in FIG. 7 , trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) solubility is about 39.0 mass % while trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) solubility is about 15.8 mass % at or near ambient conditions. This demonstrates that acetonitrile is about 2.5 times more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) over trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) under these conditions, and generally more selective towards trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) under other conditions.

Example 9B—Extractive Distillation of Trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in Acetonitrile

As described in Example 7B, a gas-phase stream comprising an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) is routed to the bottom of an extractive distillation column. A liquid-phase solvent stream comprising acetonitrile and trifluoroiodomethane is routed to the top of the extractive distillation column. The gas-phase stream is bubbled through the liquid-phase stream within the extractive distillation column to selectively absorb the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) into the acetonitrile.

The extractive distillation results in a first distillate stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount greater than the amount of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), as well as a small amount of acetonitrile. This distillate stream may be recycled back to the reactors described in the above Examples. The extractive distillation further results in a first bottoms product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), acetonitrile, and a small amount of residual trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The first bottoms product stream may then be routed to a solvent recovery distillation column. The distillation results in a second distillate stream comprising purified trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and a small amount of residual trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl). The distillation further results in a second bottoms product stream comprising acetonitrile and a small amount of residual trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I). The second bottoms product may be recycled through a solvent phase cooler to pass back to the extractive distillation column.

Aspects

Aspect 1 is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 2 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspect 1, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition has a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia.

Aspect 3 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspects 1 or 2, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 4 is an azeotrope composition including about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 0.5 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −46.0° C. and a pressure of about 4.9 psia.

Aspect 5 is an azeotrope composition including about 95.6 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 4.4 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −40.0° C. and a pressure of about 6.6 psia.

Aspect 6 is an azeotrope composition including about 89.3 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 10.7 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −30.0° C. and a pressure of about 10.5 psia.

Aspect 7 is an azeotrope composition including about 83.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 16.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −20.0° C. and a pressure of about 16.0 psia.

Aspect 8 is an azeotrope composition including about 76.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 23.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of −10.0° C. and a pressure of about 23.5 psia.

Aspect 9 is an azeotrope composition including about 70.7 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 29.3 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 0.0° C. and a pressure of about 33.7 psia.

Aspect 10 is an azeotrope composition including about 64.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 35.5 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 10.0° C. and a pressure of about 46.9 psia.

Aspect 11 is an azeotrope composition including about 58.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 41.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 20.0° C. and a pressure of about 63.9 psia.

Aspect 12 is an azeotrope composition including about 51.6 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 48.4 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 30.0° C. and a pressure of about 85.1 psia.

Aspect 13 is an azeotrope composition including about 44.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 55.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 40.0° C. and a pressure of about 111.4 psia.

Aspect 14 is an azeotrope composition including about 37.9 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 62.1 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 50.0° C. and a pressure of about 143.5 psia.

Aspect 15 is an azeotrope composition including about 30.3 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 69.7 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 60.0° C. and a pressure of about 182.1 psia.

Aspect 16 is an azeotrope composition including about 22.1 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 77.9 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 70.0° C. and a pressure of about 228.2 psia.

Aspect 17 is an azeotrope composition including about 12.7 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 87.3 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 80.0° C. and a pressure of about 283.1 psia.

Aspect 18 is an azeotrope composition including about 1.0 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) at a temperature of 90.0° C. and a pressure of about 348.0 psia.

Aspect 19 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspect 1, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of from about 0.5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 75 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 20 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspect 19, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of from about 2 wt. % to about 21 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 79 wt. % to about 98 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 21 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspect 20, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of from about 14 wt. % to about 18 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 82 wt. % to about 86 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 22 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of Aspect 21, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of about 14.87 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and about 85.13 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 23 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 19 to 22, wherein the composition has a boiling point of about −22.50° C.±0.30° C. at a pressure of about 14.41 psia±0.30 psia.

Aspect 24 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1 to 18, consisting essentially of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 25 is the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1 to 18, consisting of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 26 is a composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1 to 18.

Aspect 27 is the composition of Aspect 26, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of at least about 5 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

Aspect 28 is the composition of Aspect 27, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of at least about 15 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

Aspect 29 is the composition of Aspect 28, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of at least about 50 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

Aspect 30 is the composition of Aspect 29, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of at least about 70 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

Aspect 31 is the composition of Aspect 30, comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of at least about 90 wt. % of the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition.

Aspect 32 is a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) having a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 90.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia.

Aspect 33 is the method of Aspect 32, wherein the combining step comprises combining from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 34 is a method of forming an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising the step of combining trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 35 is the method of Aspect 34, the method comprising the step of combining trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1 to 18.

Aspect 35 is a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and at least one impurity, comprising the steps of forming, within the primary composition, a secondary composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) having a boiling point between about −46.0° C. and about 9-0.0° C. at a pressure of between about 4.9 psia and about 348 psia; and separating the secondary composition from the primary composition and the at least one impurity.

Aspect 36 is the method of Aspect 35, wherein the forming step comprises forming, within the primary composition, a secondary composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 37 is the method of Aspect 35 or Aspect 36, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is as defined in any of Aspects 1 to 18.

Aspect 38 is the method of Aspect 35 or Aspect 36, in which the separation is carried out by at least one of phase separation, distillation, and fractionation.

Aspect 39 is a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and at least one impurity, comprising the steps of forming, within the primary composition, a secondary composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I); and separating the secondary azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition from the primary composition and the at least one impurity.

Aspect 40 is the method of Aspect 39, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is as defined in any of Aspects 1 to 18.

Aspect 41 is the method of Aspect 39 or Aspect 40, in which the separation is carried out by at least one of phase separation, distillation, and fractionation.

Aspect 42 is a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) or trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from at least one impurity, comprising the steps of providing a composition which includes one of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), together with at least one impurity; adding a sufficient amount of the other of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and subjecting the composition to conditions effective to form a composition which is an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of, or consisting of, effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), and separating the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition from the impurity.

Aspect 43 is the method of Aspect 42, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition is as defined in any of Aspects 1 to 18.

Aspect 44 is the method of Aspect 42 or Aspect 43, in which the separation is carried out by at least one of phase separation, distillation, and fractionation.

Aspect 45 is a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), comprising the steps of conveying a feed stream comprising the primary composition to a low-pressure column; collecting a first bottoms product from the low-pressure column, the first bottoms product consisting essentially of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl); conveying a first distillate from the low-pressure column to a high-pressure column, the first distillate comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I); and collecting a second bottoms product from the high-pressure column, the second bottoms product consisting essentially of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 46 is the method of Aspect 45, further comprising, after the second collecting step, the additional step of recycling a second distillate from the high-pressure column back to the feed stream comprising the primary composition.

Aspect 47 is a method of separating trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) from a primary composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I), comprising the steps of conveying a feed stream comprising the primary composition to a high-pressure column; collecting a first bottoms product from the high-pressure column, the first bottoms product consisting essentially of trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I); conveying a first distillate from the high-pressure column to a low-pressure column, the first distillate comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consisting essentially of effective amounts of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I); and collecting a second bottoms product from the low-pressure column, the second bottoms product consisting essentially of trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl)

Aspect 48 is the method of Aspect 47, further comprising, after the second collecting step, the additional step of recycling a second distillate from the low-pressure column back to the feed stream comprising the primary composition.

Aspect 49 is a method of breaking the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1-26 comprising: contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent; extracting one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) into the solvent to form a first composition including the solvent and one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl); and separating the first and second compositions.

Aspect 50 is the method of Aspect 49, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consist essentially of from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 51 is the method of either Aspect 49 or Aspect 50, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, mineral oil, and acetonitrile.

Aspect 52 is the method of Aspect 51, wherein the solvent is toluene.

Aspect 53 is the method of any of Aspects 49-52, wherein the first composition comprises trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the solvent, and the second composition comprises trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl).

Aspect 54 is the method of any of Aspects 49-53, wherein the separating step further comprises extractive distillation.

Aspect 55 is the method of any of Aspects 49-54, further comprising the additional step, following the separating step, of distilling the first composition.

Aspect 56 is the method of any of Aspects 49-55, wherein the distillation of the first composition produces a product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 57 is the method of any of Aspects 49-55, wherein the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) contains trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.

Aspect 58 is the method of Aspect 49, wherein the first composition comprises trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and the solvent, and the second composition comprises trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 59 is the method of either Aspect 49 or Aspect 58, wherein separating step further comprises extractive distillation.

Aspect 60 is the method of any of Aspects 49, 58, or 59, further comprising the additional step, following the separating step, of distilling the first composition.

Aspect 61 is the method of any of Aspects 49 or 58-60, wherein the distillation of the first composition produces a product stream comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl).

Aspect 62 is the method of any of Aspects 49 or 58-61, wherein the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) contains trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.

Aspect 63 method of separating the components the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition of any of Aspects 1-26 comprising: contacting, within an extractive distillation column, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent to form a first composition including the solvent and one of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a second composition comprising the other of the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl); and distilling the first and second compositions to provide a first distillate comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a first bottoms product comprising the solvent and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 64 is the method of Aspect 63, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, mineral oil, and acetonitrile.

Aspect 65 is the method of Aspect 64, wherein the solvent is toluene.

Aspect 66 is the method of any of Aspects 63-65, wherein the extractive distillation column is a single-stage flash column.

Aspect 67 is the method of any of Aspects 63-65, wherein the extractive distillation column is a multi-stage column.

Aspect 68 is the method of any of Aspects 63-67, further comprising, after the distilling step, the additional step of purifying the first bottoms product by distillation to produce a second distillate and a second bottoms product.

Aspect 69 is the method of any of Aspects 63-68, wherein the second distillate comprises a product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).

Aspect 70 is the method of any of Aspects 63-69, wherein the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) contains trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.

As used herein, the phrase “within any range defined between any two of the foregoing values” literally means that any range may be selected from any two of the values listed prior to such phrase regardless of whether the values are in the lower part of the listing or in the higher part of the listing. For example, a pair of values may be selected from two lower values, two higher values, or a lower value and a higher value.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Moreover, when an amount, concentration, or other value or parameter is given as either a range, preferred range, or a list of upper preferable values and lower preferable values, this is to be understood as specifically disclosing all ranges formed from any pair of any upper range limit or preferred value and any lower range limit or preferred value, regardless of whether ranges are separately disclosed. Where a range of numerical values is recited herein, unless otherwise stated, the range is intended to include the endpoints thereof, and all integers and fractions within the range. It is not intended that the scope of the disclosure be limited to the specific values recited when defining a range.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of breaking an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl), comprising: contacting the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent that selectively absorbs the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I); extracting the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) into the solvent to form a first composition comprising the solvent and the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and a second composition comprising the trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl); and separating the first and second compositions.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition consists essentially of from about 0.5 wt. % to about 99.0 wt. % trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and from about 1.0 wt. % to about 99.5 wt. % trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, mineral oil, and acetonitrile.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the solvent comprises toluene.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the solvent comprises mineral oil.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the solvent comprises acetonitrile.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating step further comprises extractive distillation.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the additional step, following the separating step, of distilling the first composition.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the distillation of the first composition produces a product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) contains trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.
 11. A method of separating the components of an azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) comprising: contacting, within an extractive distillation column, the azeotrope or azeotrope-like composition with a solvent that selectively absorbs the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) to form a first composition including the solvent and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) and a second composition comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl); and distilling the first and second compositions to provide a first distillate comprising trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) and a first bottoms product comprising the solvent and trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, mineral oil, and acetonitrile.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the solvent comprises toluene.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after the distilling step, the additional step of distilling the first bottoms product to produce a second distillate and a second bottoms product.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second distillate comprises a product stream comprising trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I).
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trifluoroiodomethane (CF₃I) contains trifluoroacetyl chloride (CF₃COCl) in an amount of about 1 wt. % or less.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the solvent comprises mineral oil.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the solvent comprises acetonitrile. 